Eagles plan to use Vick in Wildcat

Michael Vick will not be held out of the Wildcat formation just because he is the Eagles' backup quarterback.

Using Michael Vick out of the Wildcat formation wasn't a great risk for the Philadelphia Eagles last year, since he was the team's No. 3 quarterback and two injuries away from having to play the position on a regular basis.

The situation is very different this year, with Kevin Kolb moving into the starter's role and Vick now the only backup with any experience.

But head coach Andy Reid said that won't limit Vick's chances to be used as a Wildcat, even though an injury would leave rookie Mike Kafka as the team's backup.

In fact, Reid said, his job will be easier this year, since he doesn't have to use Vick as the emergency quarterback in a game, as he did last season when Kolb was the backup.

"I have no problem putting him in there in the Wildcat," said Reid. "You remember last year where I kind of had to juggle things with the three quarterbacks. Really, Kevin was No. 2, but I had to keep Vick activated for the Wildcat stuff, so I don't have to worry about that this year."

Vick ran one play in the Wildcat formation while Kolb was the quarterback in the preseason opener Friday, then played the second and third quarters in relief of Kolb.

While Vick looked quicker than a year ago and ran for 50 yards on just six carries, he turned the ball over twice on a fumble and interception, and had to recover his own fumble to prevent a third turnover.

"I thought he did a good job," Reid said. "There are some things he can get better at, absolutely, and he'll be the first one to tell you that turnovers kill you in the National Football League. I mean, you can't do that and he realizes that. But I thought he handled himself well and was able to get out of danger. He got frustrated and mad at himself because he tripped a couple times there, but he'll work through that."

•Dropping a streak? It was only a matter of time.

Less than a week after offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg told everyone how Jason Avant had caught 80 passes in training camp without a drop, the veteran wide receiver dropped one Sunday morning.

Or perhaps not. Avant argued that he actually caught the short pass over the middle from Kevin Kolb before cornerback Joselio Hanson pried it loose, making the play a fumble.

"I caught it, and then somebody poked it out," said Avant. "But I got it back."

Either way, Avant wasn't too keen on the topic. Almost always unwilling to talk about himself, Avant said he didn't know about the dropless streak, and would rather Mornhinweg had kept it to himself.

"I don't think about that stuff," said Avant. "Marty came up with that. I wish he would have never said it."

•Nice comeback: Although he's listed as the fifth running back on the roster, Martell Mallett was the Eagles' most productive runner in their preseason opener Friday night, gaining 60 yards on 15 carries.

Not bad for a guy who was cut one day and brought back the next earlier in camp.

"Are you saying that was a bad move?" joked head coach Andy Reid of the initial release.

Mallett, undrafted out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff last year, signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League and was the league's outstanding rookie after running for 1,240 yards and six touchdowns. The Eagles signed him in January.

With backups Mike Bell and J.J. Arrington both out with injuries Friday, Mallett got extended duty and delivered. While he's still a longshot to make the team, he caught Reid's attention.

"He was a heck of a player in Canada," said Reid. "He got caught in a little bit of a numbers game here (when he was waived). We had some people banged up when we released him and we were able to bring him back. He kind of did what we expected him to do. He has a nice feel for the run game and he actually caught the ball very well in the game the other night.

"He also did a very good job on special teams, which if you're going to be a third, fourth back on a team, or for that matter a second back, then you need a spot there on special teams that you can help out."

•Injury update: Running back Mike Bell returned to full practice Sunday morning after missing most of camp with a hamstring pull, but strained his calf during the practice and left again.